1 November 2017

dälek - Endangered Philosophies

The new
release of any album from Newark industrial hip hop crew dälek is always a
thing to celebrate, to absorb deeply and to play as loud as possible.
It's also something to take your time over, to live with for a while and that
is what I have been doing for the past two months. After the blistering Asphalt for Eden (our review linked here),
I have learnt to appreciate everything that they release.It was one of my personal favourite records
of 2016, an album which gets a regular airing in my place, so I’m very glad
that dälek have released a new album so quickly.Endangered
Philosophies also sees dälek return to Ipecac records, something that has
made their fan base rejoice as this was previously a union that worked well for
both parties.Now, whilst It has not
been that long since their last record, it can sometimes work well for a band
to release more material, especially whilst their creative juices are flowing.So, let’s find out what Endangered Philosophies is all about…...

01 – Echoes of….

It all starts with a swirling piece of noise, then the drums are added slowly to “Echoes
of….” and we are back in a familiar land of noise and loud hip-hop that is crafted in a similar style to the sound of Asphalt for
Eden.This is not say that dälek
have been resting on their laurels, but there is in all probably, a lot of new
material to be mined out of their current sound.It's a defiant song, a rebellious number
that sticks two fingers up to their detractors and it will act as a call to
arms for people, business as usual for dälek then.

02 – Weapons

With a softer introduction, “Weapons” might seem like it is trying to lull the audience into a
false sense of safety, but dälek are just delivering their message with a calm, intense and
steady voice.It's a song about end
times, about losing focus in this era of turbulence and how we need to look
behind the words behind the messages that people are being fed.There is a siege feeling to this song, as if the
war is at the door and there are wolves you've got to stop from smashing it down
and taking everything.It's a fantastic
piece, one that leaves a lasting impact on the listener long after it is
finished.

03 – Few Understand

“Few Understand” continues the work of “Weapons”, with the noise in the
distant background and only emerging to the foreground during the chorus sections, leaving the words
to do their job and deliver the message that dälek need to the pass onto the world.It's about not being heard, about looking
for answers in the wrong places and trying to figure everything out on your
own.It's another great song, one that
I adore, and it continues the great work that has already been laid out by
dälek.

04 – The Son of Immigrants

Never afraid to get political, “The Son of Immigrants” is a harsh picture of
modern America, of the underbelly where people are treat like shit and the mere
fact you get to the end of the day is amazing.It looks to the past and there is a comparison to the present, with a
look to the future as well.It's a
harsh number, there is rightful anger and they are not gonna take no for an
answer.This is one of the highlights of
the record, the music and the rap are truly awe-inspiring.

05 – Beyond the Madness

“Beyond the Madness” is a track I could listen to for hours on end and never
lose interest, it has a drone quality that is easy to lose yourself in, a
brilliant performance by dälek on the vocals and the music is enclosing, making
you feel like the walls are closing in.It's dark as midnight in a cave and it's one of the best songs on the
album for me, what a tune.

06 – Sacrifice

“Sacrifice” is one of the most sinister songs created by dälek musically on
this album, the high-pitched synth noises send shivers up your spine as the
subjects of race and conflict are explored.It's a hard-hitting number, one that it bound to ruffle feathers and that is very much needed at present.Sometimes being quite isn't
an option, sometimes things need to be said and that's what “Sacrifice” is all about.

07 – Nothing Stays Permanent

“Nothing Stays Permanent” continues along the same path that dälek have gone
down on Endangered Philosophies,
harsh rhymes, huge beat and a sound that would not be out of place in any
nightclub in the world (apart from one of those Day-Glo pop bars).It’s designed to create an oppressive vibe
and they are unbeatable when they are in this form.

08 – A Collective Cancelled Thought

“A Collective Cancelled Thought” is the longest song on the album, coming in
just over seven minutes in length.For
the first five minutes of the song, it's just pure noise, wonderful and aggressive
noise.Then, they drop another powerful
rap, one which seems to go by in a blink of an eye, but it is because they are
so good at what they do, it hits you with such speed that you are knocked
sideways.Another top draw song from
dälek, one that will sound brilliant live.

09 – Battlecries

After such a huge and harsh number, dälek take the noise out of the equation
with “Battlecries”, a sombre and thought-provoking number that makes might let
you rest musically, but the rhymes are still as hard-hitting as ever.Isolation, suicide and feeling left out of
society (something which is sadly still the case for a lot of people) are the
subjects of this song, each word is delivered with precision and it sound
brilliant.

10 – Straight Razors

With “Straight Razors”, dälek once again continue along that droning path that
has been their calling card on Endangered
Philosophies.It’s hard-hitting, the
music sounds like a machine that is hitting you when turned up loud and it all
sounds fantastic.Even as the album
draws to a close, they are not losing focus or dropping the ball.

11 – Numb

“Numb” brings the curtain down on Endangered Philosophies in the way you would
expect, the noise is turned up to full volume, the feedback from the speakers
is deafening and the impact of the rhymes is stunning.It's a brilliant ending to this album, one
which is demanding change and I think only an appearance by the Lord Almighty
would stop that demand, even then, I think they would get their way.

Endangered Philosophies is another
brilliant album from dälek, they have continued the fine form that they started
on Asphalt for Eden and taken it to
its ragged, sinister edge.It is not an easy
album on the soul, but it’s an important album as dälek are one of the best hip-hop
acts currently out there.This is an
album which will not have any fair-weather fans, it’s one you will either love
or hate, personal I adore it.If I had
one piece of criticism, it would be that Endangered
Philosophies is a little too similar to Asphalt
for Eden in tone, but even then, that does not bother me. I would be deliberately looking for issues
where none exist in my mind, this is a great album and if anyone says otherwise, they
are lying. Too many times I have been hung up when a band stays on the same
course, but when it’s still baring fruits as gloriously dark as this, what is
there to complain about.This is another
special album in 2017, showcasing dälek at a creative peak.

Welcome to the final round-up review of 2017! Similar to the Round-Up posts I put up earlier in the year, I’m going to be posting some bull...

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Album scoring system

0 - This is proof there is no deity1 - You're really are touching the bottom of the barrel with this one2 - If only there was some quality control3 - It could have been a bit better4 - Well it's alright, but still......5 -Not for everyone but played well6 - Now I see where you were going, but it's not quite there7 - This is good and well worth a check8 - Oh, now you have my attention and maybe my money, time and heart9 - Almost perfect....Almost10 - This is proof there is a deity(For albums that are too crazy to be marked)Crazy Cat symbol - This album cannot be marked, so here is a box of kittens

Singles/EP Marking System

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